"Real Convictions Make a Difference" 2012

Deuteronomy 15:7-8, 10-11 James 2:1-4, 8,10, 14-17

Deuteronomy 15:7-8, 10-117If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. 8You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be. 10Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.”

James 2:1-4, 8,10, 14-17

2My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 2For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” 4have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 8You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

I love the story about a weary man down on his luck and very hungry,

who comes to a small inn, goes around back, & knocks on the door,

hoping to earn enough for food and rest along the way.

A woman opens the door, and giving him a suspicious 'once over';

she growls angrily, "You no-good, lazy and shiftless bum --

go away – we'll have none of the likes of you around here";

and with that, she slams the door hard in his face.

Noticing the sign overhead, The Inn of St. George and the Dragon,

he knocks on the door a second time.

When she opens the door again, he says,

"If he’s in ma'am, now may I have a word with St. George?"

What distinctions – what judgments do we make about other people,

and how will they hold up in the light of eternity with God?

People may not long remember exactly what we have said or done,

but they will always remember how we made them feel ---

so, how do others feel about our treatment of them?

When I used to stay overnight in Richmond on business trips,

the police were always very helpful and cooperative,

and would even stop traffic out front so hotel guests

could get out of the parking lot at the Marriott.

Later, when I was in seminary,

some other students and I were stopped at a traffic light,

and big semi-truck carelessly drove into us.

A Richmond policeman came to investigate, and I was shocked

that he treated the truck driver with great deference,

and was sure that since we were just students,

obviously, somehow the accident was our fault.

Another time during seminary, I was riding in the backseat

with some African-American women from one of my classes.

It was totally unexpected,

but noticeable and obvious, that a policeman directing traffic

looked at them differently and with open suspicion ---

-- in a way I’d never experienced in Richmond before.

In all three instances, I was the same guy in the same city,

but was perceived and treated quite differently each time.

It’s not shocking, that is the way of this world, but as Christians,

as the body of Christ, we are called to a much higher standard.

One of the measures of our faith, the authenticity of our faith,

and a test of our church as a faith community of Christians,

lies in how well we treat one another, and the stranger,

and how we regard those who are different, or on the outside.

As Christians, it’s not our task to judge other people,

rather, it is to bring out their best and highest potential.

So, how does our Christian hospitality and openness stack up, and à

does it reflect the gracious love and welcome of Jesus Christ?

As James wrote, vs. 1-4

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

In the world's view and perspective, the rich man was far more

important and valuable because he could give more and do more,

and his success and status made him a more worthwhile person.

We are taught that lesson about judgment and worth, all our lives…

such as, the teacher who smiles at the "A" student,

but can't seem to remember the "C or D" student's name.

Naturally we notice the signs of someone's success and status,

but James insists,

if that gets translated into favoritism and partiality

then it’s incompatible and inconsistent with a life of Christian faith, obedience and faithfulness.

I find that most human behavior and the motivations behind it

are almost always far more complex than I first supposed;

- with secret things that went tragically wrong in their past,

- terrible hurts and wounds they have not been able to heal

- fears, guilt, insecurities, issues not yet resolved

and that still effect and have power to influence.

There's almost always far more going on with other people

than we can appreciate or recognize on their external surface…

… and if we knew more about their wounds and struggles,

we’d be far more compassionate, gentle and understanding.

One time when I was playing volleyball in the backyard,

our team was just tearing them up – we were playing so well;

every serve and spike went to just the right spot;

it seemed we couldn't miss – and we could do no wrong.

We won and celebrated our victory and obvious athletic prowess.

Then, for the next game, the two teams switched sides,

and suddenly the other team was playing incredibly well,

and our team couldn't seem to do anything right.

As it turned out the court was on a very slight incline, that was à

almost imperceptible – you'd need survey equipment to detect it.

So, it looked like one team could play much better than the other,

but it really wasn't the players' skill or ability at all;

the winner was determined by whoever had the uphill side;

** it was a tremendous yet subtle advantage…

and sometimes, so it goes in life, in this world.

If we have succeeded and done well in life,

it’s not cause for feeling smug or self-satisfied or superior;

for we don't know how we would have responded à

if had to cope with someone else’s obstacles or circumstances.

or if we would have risen to the challenge someone else faced.

Part of our call is to work toward leveling life's playing field,

seeking to correct this world's imbalances & discriminations…

… for human advantage, favoritism, distinctions and partiality

almost always favors the team winning on the uphill side.

Our call is to reflect God's unrestricted love for all of humanity,

by being equitable and charitable in our treatment of all people,

regardless of outward appearances or the biases we carry,

… and being willing to give others the benefit of the doubt,

as a reflection of God's mercy, compassion and hope.

As James reminds us, vs. 8-9

You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

There was nothing wrong

with treating that rich man with hospitality and respect,

but it ought to be the same for the poor man as well.

What matters is that they are both God's beloved and valued;

it is not about wealth, or their usefulness or capacity to give.

We’re called to live & reflect God's own gracious kindness & mercy.

It is God's command to share with compassion and generosity

to be a caring community, showing justice and integrity,

to be a people who take care of one another in need,

and do not hold up one as better than another.

There is always a critical connection

between our faith, and what we do with it, in how we live it;

between our spirituality – and what we do about others,

the stranger we encounter & those in need whom we could assist…

… for how can we claim that we walk with Jesus as our Lord,

and yet think & behave in ways that are miserly or discriminate

against those others who are also created in God's image?

In the Deuteronomy passage, God makes it very clear, vs. 11

Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.”

If we really have received and accepted God's love and blessings,

then some of that mercy and grace will surely overflow,

& just have to leak out in the way that we live our lives.

It is not that by our good works or compassion that we are saved,

but they are the fruit,

and the best evidence that God is at work in our lives.

If we have come to faith, and we have opened our lives to Jesus,

then truly mercy and compassion will be a part of our lives --

because without mercy and compassion,

whatever it is, it isn't really life changing faith.

Our good works & deeds of charity do not earn our way into heaven,

but if God's grace has taken root in us and in our lives,

then caring compassion will be a growing part of our nature.

Faith is the fire that burns within us,

our good deeds and attitude are the smoke from that fire.

We can hardly claim to be people of faith and who walk with Jesus,

- if that faith-walk has no effect or impact on how we live;

- if we have no interest, care, compassion, mercy or concern

for the needs, the struggles, & the welfare of our neighbors.

We can no more walk in faith with Jesus and not show compassion,

then we could grab a handful of jelly and squeeze it,

and not have some leak and squirt out through our fingers.

We can’t separate social justice or mercy from our spirituality,

for they are practical and genuine expressions of our faith.

Our ethics, our behavior, our attitudes, our words, and our deeds

are all fruits arising from our faith, from Jesus living in us,

and generous compassion, best demonstrates God at work in us.

As Jesus explained, Matthew 25:34-36

Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'

Friends, God cares very much, how we choose to respond to His love.